Shadow box for tube

ABSTRACT

A one piece shadow box adapted for retaining a tube is disclosed having a unique cradle and suspension system formed out of the front shadow panels which takes advantage of the resilient properties of the packaging material (preferably paperboard) to retain the tube in position while providing front loading, economy of material, and keeping part of one side of the tube in approximately the same plane as the shadow box front panel, thereby enhancing stackability and related storage and handling properties of the box.

United States Patent 1191 Schillinger 1 Jan. 23, 1973 22 Filed:

[54] SHADOW BOX FOR TUBE [75] inventor: Joseph F. Schillinger, Palosl-iills, Ill.

[73] Assignee: US.

Inc.

Dec. 17, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 209,269

Plywood-Champion Papers,

[52 us. or. ..206/45.19

511 Int. Cl. ..B65d 5/50 58 Field of Search ..206/45.19, 45.14

[56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 3,252,566 5/1966 Hanson .,.206/45.14

3,292,777 12/1966 Desmond ..206/45. l4

3,419,133 .12/1968 Stone ..l06/45.14

Primary Examiner-Leonard Summer Attorney-Daniel P. Worth [57] ABSTRACT A one piece shadow box adapted for retaining a tube is disclosed having a unique cradle and suspension system formed out of the front shadow panels which takes advantage of the resilient properties of the packaging material (preferably paperboard) to retain the tube in position while providing front loading, economy of material, and keeping part of one side of the tube in approximately the same plane as the shadow box front panel, thereby enhancing stackability and related storage and handling properties of the box.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures SHADOW sox son runs BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF INVENTION This invention relates to an improvement in a shadow box of one piece of sheet material. Another aspect of this invention concerns a shadow box adapted to hold a tube.

l-Ieretofore in providing display containers for tubes it has been desired, indeed often required, that some means be provided to hold the flat end of the tube (e.g., the flat end of a tube of toothpaste, shampoo, etc.) within the container and means to secure the tube in place. Many times these prior art containers have required end loading of the carton and met difficulties by reason of a tendency to jam as the tube is passed through the container. Also, the various holding and securing means for the tube have either required 'additional pieces of material or extra panels of material from which they are formed.

The present invention has for an object the provision of an improved shadow box for holding a tube. Another object of the present invention is such a shadow box providing an economy of material. A further object is such a shadow box capable of being loaded from the front or through the front panel. A further object of the invention is to provide a shadow box capable of being made of one piece of paperboard which will hold the tube, permit front end loading, and provide an improved package for handling, stacking, etc., while at the same time requiring onlyan economic amount of material.

The present invention provides a shadow box made primarily from four principal panels, the front panel of which is cut and scored in such a way as to provide both the shadow panels and'the cradle or suspension means forholding the tube in place. Advantage is taken of the resilient properties of the material which preferably is paperboard. In the disclosed embodiment, the improved shadow box'also supports the tube so that its outermost surface is in approximately the same plane as the front panel thus providing enhanced packaging, handling, and stacking properties to the overall package.

Other objects, advantages and features will be ap preciated from a reading of the following disclosure in connection with the annexed drawing:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank for making a container-according to the present invention as seen from the outside surface of the blank;

FIG. 2 is a side cross sectional view along 2 -2 of FIG. 3 of a loaded shadow box made according to the invention and showing the suspension system'for the tube, relationship of the front panel and outer'tube surface, and related features; and

FIG. 3 is an isometric partially cut-away (e.g., at one corner) view of part of the shadow box showing how the panels are folded as viewed from the end and providing an isometric front view of the box and tube it contains.

It will be appreciated that when the container is manufactured its side seam is glued into what is called a flat form" so that the packager using it only has to erect it and insert the tube. Thus, the packager does not have to glue any seam.

As best seen in FIG. 1 a blank 1 for making the instant shadow box contains a glue flap 2', rear panel 3,

' plurality of parallel score lines 7, 8, 9, 10, that run longitudinally of the box. A top lateral score line 11 hingedly connects the top closure panel 12 to the upper end of the rear panel 3. A top shadow panel 13 holds tube 14 in place and is hingedly connected by score line 15 to the outermost side of closure panel 12. A cutout 17, is shaped properly for receiving and engaging the upper end of the tube intended to be placed in the box. The depth of cut, i.e., how close the cutout 17 comes to score 15, is determined not only by the size of the tube but by the amount of force to be applied against the top end of the tube by cutout 17 and shadow panel 13 in cooperation with the cradle as is illustrated in FIG. 2. It also has to do with the extent to which the outer surface of the tube is to be aligned with the front panel when the container is erected.

The extensions of lateral score 11 go across both side panels 4 and 6 and serve to hingedly connect the top end tabs l8, 19 to their respective side panels 4, 6.

A bottom score line 21 extends laterally thereby hingedly connecting bottom tabs 22, 23 to their respective side panels 4, 6 and hingedly connecting bottom closure panel 25 to the front panel 5. A bottom closing flap 27 is hingedly connected by a score line 28 with short cuts 29 at the end.

Lateral score lines 11, 21 lie along the top and bottom edges of the erected box and hence coincide with the top edge of front panel 5 and bottom edge of rear panel 3. The top and bottom tabs 18, 19 and 22, 23 are respectively on opposite ends of side panels 4, 6.

The unique cradle and tube suspension system of this invention is situated in the front panel 5 and coacts with cutout "to hold the tube in place. Other panels ends'of the mitered upper edges 34, 35 of respective right and'left portions 32, 33 at a common junction. Mitered edges 34,35 are out along a bias which as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 cooperates with top shadow panel 13 to provide the requisite shadow effect and define the degree of slope of the top shadow panel and right and left portions 13, 32, 33.

Located in the central portion of front panel 5 below perforation 30 are a number of panels defined by various cut and score lines that provide the cradle system for the bottom of the tube. The periphery of thesespecial panels is somewhat bell-shaped. At the bottom of this cradle configuration is a cut-score line 40 on each end of which is a cut 42. Extending generally upward and converging gently towards each other are a second pair of cut lines 44, 45 which terminate at a lateral score line 46. A second lateral score line 47, in fact one which defines a hinged joint that supportsthe bottom of the tube to be received extends between the approximately mid-points of the converging scores 44, 45. Advantageously, score line 47 may either be cut scored or actually out all the way through the blank at its middle third, to facilitate the extreme degree of folding to which it will be subjected.

The upper end of the bell-shaped cradle means is bounded by a pair of'cut lines 48, 49 which meet at-the perforation line 30, to form an inverted U" with the open end facing towards the bottom of the shadow box, and extending down almost but not quite to the level of score line 47. Middle score lines 50, 51 are located on eachside-and connect the innermost converging cuts 44, 45 with, respectively, the outer-most cuts 50, 51. It will be observed that the upper ends of cut lines 44, 45

and lower portions of outer cuts 50, 51 are approximately parallel. A lower front tube and suspension panel 55 is defined by the cut scores 40, 47 and the converging cuts 44, 45. Above said panel 55 on the other side of score 47 is a lower rear tube end suspension panel 56 above which latter is a connecting panel 57.

As seen in FIG. 2, the articulating support panels 58, 59'extend from the connecting panel to score lines 50, 51 and are provided respectively to the right and left of the lower rear panel 56, and when the carton is erected they are caused to fold about the scorelines 50 and 51 to an oblique position as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The carton (FIGS. 2 and 3) is formed by folding along the various longitudinal scores 7, 8, 9, and gluing the outside of glue flap 2 to the underside of side panel 6 to make a flat unerected carton. The carton is erected by pushing scores 8 and 10 to where the side panels are at 90 with the front and rear panels. The bottom closure panel and flap 25, 27 are closed about the tabs 22, 23 in the usual fashion and the top closure and shadow panels are folded so that the shadow panel 13 underlies the mitered edges 34, 35. Flap 2 is shown with glue on it (FIG. 1

The carton can now be front loaded witha tube 14 by pressing the flat bottom end 60 of the tube firmly against the score 47 or suspension panel 55 thereby causing it to fold down within the shadow box, and the tube is then continued to be pushed toward the bottom, i.e., toward closure panel 25. This causes the support panels 58 and 59 to articulate to their rear oblique position, the bottom of the tube to slide down the front panel until it rests against. score line 47 (against which it will continue to rest in the final package as illustrated in FIG. 2). The loading is completed by pushing the top end of thetube against the perforation line 30, causing.

the perforations to give way and the left and right shadow panel 32 and 33 to begin folding inwardly to the carton. The pressure is continued onthe tube until the upper end of the tube snaps into the cutout 17.

The catch panels 64, 66 lie on each side of panel 55 and serve to retain the tube in place.

Iclaim: x 1. A shadow box for'a tube which box is made from one piece of material and comprises front, rear, and

first and second side'panels hingedly' connectcd by score lines and with said first side panel between said front and rear panels and an adhesive seam connecting said second side panel to oneof said front and rear p L a line of weakness centrally located in the uppermost part of the front panel dividing said front panel into right and left shadow portions;

mitered edges at the uppermost part of the front panel; v V I a top shadow panel means hingedly supported from said rear panel having a cutout for receiving the tube-and folded to underlie the mitered edges of saidfront panel;

a cradle means formed centrally in said front panel at the'bottom end of said line of weakness and including:

a rear tube end suspension panel,

a front tube end suspension panel hingedly connected between the front panel and said rear suspension panel,

a connecting panel immediately above said rear suspension panel, right and left articulating support panels respectively connected between said connecting panel and a lower portion of said front shadow panels;

all so arranged and constructed that when a tube or similar object is inserted said front suspension panel and articulating panels are moved inwardly reversely with said rear suspension panel connected between the former at its lower end and by the connecting panel to both of the latter at its upper end and the mitered edges engage said top shadow panel moving same to an oblique position within the shadow box. 2. A shadow box according to claim 1 wherein said material is paperboard.

3. A blank fora shadow box wherein the box comprises front, rear, and first and second panels'hingedly connected by score lines and with said first side panel between said front and rear panels and an adhesive seam connecting said second side panel to one of said front and rear panels;

a line of weakness centrally located in the uppermost part of the front paneldividing said front panel into right and left shadow portions;

mitered edges at the uppermost part of the front panel; l

a top shadow panel means hingedly supported from said rear panel having a cutout for receiving the tube and folded to underlie the mitered edges of said front panel; A

a cradle means formed centrally in said front panel at thebottom end of said line of weakness and including a rear tube end suspension panel,

a front tube end suspension panel hingedly connected between the front panel and said-rear suspension panel, i a connecting panel immediately above saidrear suspension panel, right and left articulating supbothof the'latter at its upper end and the.

mitered edges engage said 'top shadow panel moving same to an oblique position within the shadow box.

UNITED STATES PATENT UFMQE @ETEFEQA'TE @F Patent No- 3 7l2 461 Dated January 23. 1973 Inventor(s) Joseph Schiliing er It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patentare hereby corrected as shown below:

. Column 4, line 33 after "second" insert side- Signed and sealed this 29th day of May 1973.

. Attest 2 EDWARD M PLETCHER,JR ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Atte'sting Officer Commissioner. of Patents RM s -69 0 Po 0 USCOMM-DC 60376-1 69 9 Us. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 2 I959 0-355-334 

1. A shadow box for a tube which box is made from one piece of material and comprises front, rear, and first and second side panels hingedly connected by score lines and with said first side panel between said front and rear panels and an adhesive seam connecting said second side panel to one of said front and rear panels; a line of weakness centrally located in the uppermost part of the front panel dividing said front panel into right and left shadow portions; mitered edges at the uppermost part of the front panel; a top shadow panel means hingedly supported from said rear panel having a cutout for receiving the tube and folded to underlie the mitered edges of said front panel; a cradle means formed centrally in said front panel at the bottom end of said line of weakness and including a rear tube end suspension panel, a front tube end suspension panel hingedly connected between the front panel and said rear suspension panel, a connecting panel immediately above said rear suspension panel, right and left articulating support panels respectively connected between said connecting panel and a lower portion of said front shadow panels; all so arranged and constructed that when a tube or similar object is inserted said front suspension panel and articulating panels are moved inwardly reversely with said rear suspension panel connected between the former at its lower end and by the connecting panel to both of the latter at its upper end and the mitered edges engage said top shadow panel moving same to an obliqUe position within the shadow box.
 2. A shadow box according to claim 1 wherein said material is paperboard.
 3. A blank for a shadow box wherein the box comprises front, rear, and first and second panels hingedly connected by score lines and with said first side panel between said front and rear panels and an adhesive seam connecting said second side panel to one of said front and rear panels; a line of weakness centrally located in the uppermost part of the front panel dividing said front panel into right and left shadow portions; mitered edges at the uppermost part of the front panel; a top shadow panel means hingedly supported from said rear panel having a cutout for receiving the tube and folded to underlie the mitered edges of said front panel; a cradle means formed centrally in said front panel at the bottom end of said line of weakness and including a rear tube end suspension panel, a front tube end suspension panel hingedly connected between the front panel and said rear suspension panel, a connecting panel immediately above said rear suspension panel, right and left articulating support panels respectively connected between said connecting panel and a lower portion of said front shadow panels; all so arranged and constructed that when a tube or similar object is inserted said front suspension panel and articulating panels are moved inwardly reversely with said rear suspension panel connected between the former at its lower end and by the connecting panel to both of the latter at its upper end and the mitered edges engage said top shadow panel moving same to an oblique position within the shadow box. 